当我们谈论爱情时我们谈论着什么（节选）What We Talk About When We Talk About Love（excerpt）by Raymond Carver
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《当我们谈论爱情时我们谈论什么》是卡佛最著名的短篇小说之一。这则短篇小说问世时曾被批评家们称为“极简抽象派”作品，卡佛本人对此说法不予认同，因为这一概念拔高叙述形式的地位却忽视人物刻画。这则小说被誉为卡佛的代表作，极具原创性。它意在解释人类情感的复杂多变，特别是男女之爱在具有威慑力量的同时又为何如此不堪一击。
《当我们谈论爱情时我们谈论什么》一文的“纠结问
题”―卡佛喜欢用“纠结问题”一词代替“主旨”―涵盖了：爱情并不是海枯石烂的；人类情感错综复杂，语言难以将其一一表述。故事中的四个人物就爱情的本质争论不休，到头来只发现他们各自的观点南辕北辙，难以统一。他们似乎不是在讨论爱情，而是在谈论嫉妒、误解、痛苦。事实上他们的对话反而令彼此之间更加疏远。有些批评家把每一对夫妇看成是爱情中的一个境界：尼克和劳拉代表早期理想化的时期，而缪尔和特丽则是经历更多、看得更为透彻的一对。也有评论家认为卡佛的这篇小说是柏拉图《会饮篇》脱去经典外壳后的现代翻版。
My friend Mel McGinnis was talking.Mel McGinnis is a cardiologist[1]，and sometimes that gives him the right.
The four ，of us were sitting around his kitchen table drinking gin[2].Sunlight filled the kitchen from the big window behind the sink[3].There were Mel and me and his second wife，Teresa-Terri，we called her-and my wife，Laura.We lived in Albuquerque，then.But we were all from somewhere else.
There， was an ice bucket on the table.The gin and the tonic[4]water kept going around，and we somehow got on the subject of love.Mel thought real love was nothing less than spiritual love.He said he’d spent five years in a seminary[5]before quitting to go to medical school.He said he still looked back on those years in the seminary as the most important in his life.
Terri ，said the man she lived with before she lived with Mel loved her so much he tried to kill her.Then Terri said，“He beat me up one night.He dragged me around the living room by my ankles.He kept saying，“I love you，I love you，you *****.”He went on dragging me around the living room.My head kept knocking on things.”Terri looked around the table.“What do you do with love like that？”
She was a bone-thin woman with a pretty face，dark eyes，and brown hair that hung down her back.
“My God，don’t be silly.That’s not love，and you know it，”Mel said.“I don’t know what you’d call it，but I sure know you wouldn’t call it love.”
“Say what you want to，but I know it was，”Terri said，“It may sound crazy to you，but it’s true just the same.People are different，Mel.Sure，sometimes he may have acted crazy.Okay.But he loved me.In his own way，maybe，but he loved me.There was love there，Mel.Don’t say there wasn’t.”
Mel let out his breath.He held his glass and turned to Laura and me.“The man threatened to kill me，”Mel said.He finished his drink and reached for the gin bottle.“Terri’s a romantic.Terri’s of the‘Kick-me-so-I’ll-know-you-love-me’school.Terri，hon，don’t look that way.”Mel reached across the table and touched Terri’s cheek with his fingers.He grinned at her.
“Now he wants to make up，”Terri said.
“Make up what？”Mel said.“What is there to make up？I know what I know.That’s，all.”
“What would you call it then？”Terri said.“How’d we get started on this subject anyway？”Terri said.She raised her glass and drank from it.“Mel always has love on his mind，”she said.“Don’t you，honey？”She smiled，and I thought that was the last of it.
“I just wouldn’t call Ed’s behavior love.That’s all I’m saying，honey，”Mel said.“What about you guys？”Mel said to Laura and me.“Does that sound like love to you？”
“I’m the wrong person to ask{L-End}
，”I said.“I didn’t even know the man.I’ve only heard his name mentioned in passing.I wouldn’t know.You’d have to know all the particulars.But I think what you’re saying is that love is an absolute.”
Mel said，“the kind of love I’m talking about is The kind of love I’m talking about，you don’t try to kill people.”
Laura said，“I don’t know anything about Ed，or anything about the situation.But who can judge anyone else’s situation？”
I picked up Laura’s hand.It was warm，the nails polished，perfectly manicured[6].I encircled the broad wrist with my fingers，and I held her.
“When I left，he drank rat poison，”Terri said.She clasped her arms with her hands.“They took him to the hospital in Santa Fe.That’s where we lived then，about ten miles out.They saved his life.But his gums[7]went crazy from it.I mean they pulled away from his teeth.After that his teeth stood out like fangs.My God，”Terri said.She waited a minute，then let go of her arms and picked up her glass.
“What people won’t do！”Laura said.
“He’s out of the action now，”Mel said.“He’s dead.”
Mel handed me the saucer of limes.I took a section，squeezed it over my drink，and stirred the ice cubes with my finger.
“It gets worse，”Terri said.“He shot himself in the mouth{L-End}
，But he bungled[8]that too.Poor Ed，”she said.Terri shook her head.
“Poor Ed nothing，”Mel said.“He was dangerous.”
Mel was forty-five years old.He was tall and rangy[9]with curly soft hair.His face and arms were brown from the tennis he played.When he was sober[10]，his gestures，all his movements，were precise，very careful.
“He did love me though，Mel.Grant me that，”Terri said.“That’s all I’m asking.He didn’t love me the way you love me.I’m not saying that.But he loved me.You can grant me that，can’t you？”
“What do you mean，‘He bungled it’？”I said.
Laura leaned forward with her glass.She put her elbows on the table and held her glass in hands.She glanced from Mel to Terri and waited with a look of bewilderment[11]on her open face，as if amazed that such things happened to people you were friendly with.
“How’d he bungle it when he killed himself？”I said.
“I’ll tell you what happened，”Mel said.“He took this twenty-two pistol he’d bought to threaten Terri and me with.Oh，I’m serious，the man was always threatening.You should have seen the way we lived in those days.Like fugitives[12].I even bought a gun myself.Can you believe it？A guy like me？But I did.I bought one for self-defense and carried it in the glove compartment.Sometimes I’d have to leave the apartment in the middle of the night.To go to the hospital，you know？Terri and I weren’t married then，and my first wife had the house and kids，the dog，everything，and Terri and I were living in this apartment here.Sometimes，as I say，I’d get a call in the middle of the night and have to go in to the hospital at two or three in the morning.It’d be dark out there in the parking lot and I’d break into a sweat before I could even get to my car.I never knew if he was going to come up out of the shrubbery[13]or from behind a car and start shooting.I mean，the man was crazy.He was capable of wiring a bomb，anything.He used to call my service at all hours and say he needed to talk to the doctor，and when I’d return the call he’d say，‘Son of a *****，your days are numbered.’Little things like that.It was scary，I’m telling you.”
“I still feel sorry for him，”Terri said.
“It sounds like a nightmare，”Laura said.“But what exactly happened after he shot himself？”
Laura is a legal secretary.We’d met in a professional capacity[14].Before we knew it，it was a courtship[15].She’s thirty-five，three years younger than I am.In addition to being in love，we like each other and enjoy one another’s company.She’s easy to be with.
“What happened？”Laura asked again.
Mel said，“He shot himself in the mouth in his room.Someone heard the shot and told the manager.They came in with a passkey，saw what had happened，and called an ambulance.I happened to be there when they brought him，alive，but past recall.The man lived for three days.His head swelled up to twice the size of a normal head.I’d never seen anything like it，and I hope I never do again.Terri wanted to go in and sit with him when she found out about-it.We had a fight over it.I didn’t think she should see him like that.I didn’t think she should see him，and I still don’t.”
“Who won the fight？”Laura said.
“I was in the room with him when he died，”Terri said.“He never came up out of it.But I sat with him.He didn’t have anyone else.”
“He was dangerous，”Mel said.“If you call that love，you can have it.”
“It was love，”Terri said.“Sure it was abnormal in most people’s eyes.But，he was willing to die for it.He did die for it.”
Mel said.“I mean，no one knows what he did it for.I’ve seen a lot of suicides，and I couldn’t say anyone ever knew what they did it for”
Mel ，put his hands behind his neck and tilted[16]his chair back.“I’m not interested in that kind of love，”he said.“If that’s love，you can have it.”
Terri said，“We were afraid.Mel even made a will out and wrote to his brother in California who used to be a Green Beret.Mel told him who to look for if something happened to him
Terri drank from her glass.She said，“But Mel’s right-we lived like fugitives.We were afraid.Mel was，weren’t you，honey？I even called the police at one point，but they were no help.They said they couldn’t do anything until Ed actually did something.Isn’t that a laugh？”Terri said.
She poured， the last of the gin into her glass and waggled[17]the bottle.Mel got up from the table and went to the cupboard.He took down another bottle.
“Well，Nick and I know what love is”Laura said.“For us，I mean，”Laura said.She bumped[18]my knee with her knee.“You’re supposed to say something now，”Laura said，and turned her smile on me.
For an answer，I took Laura’s hand and raised it to my lips.I made a big production out of kissing her hand.Everyone was amused.
“We’re lucky，”I said.
“You guys，”Terri said.“Stop that now.You’re ****** me sick.You’re still on a honeymoon，for God’s sake.You’re still gaga[19]，for crying out loud.Just wait.How long have you been together now？How long has it been？A year？Longer than a year.”
“Going on a year and a half，”Laura said，flushed and smiling.
“Oh，now，”Terri said.“Wait a while.”
She， held her drink and gazed at Laura.
“I’m only kidding，”Terri said.
Mel ，opened the gin and went around the table with the bottle.
Here，you guys，”he said.“Let’s have a toast.I want to propose a toast.A toast to love.To true love，”Mel said.
We touched glasses.
“To love，”we said.
Outside in the backyard，one of the dogs began to bark.The leaves of the aspen[20]that leaned past the window ticked against the glass.The afternoon sunlight was like a presence in this room，the spacious light of ease and generosity.We could have been anywhere，somewhere enchanted.We raised our glasses again and grinned at each other like children who had agreed on something forbidden.
“I’ll tell you what real love is，”Mel said.“I mean，I’ll give you a good example.And then you can draw your own conclusions.”He poured more gin into his glass.He added an ice cube and a sliver of lime.We waited and sipped our drinks.Laura and I touched knees again.I put a hand on her warm thigh and left it there.
Mel said.“It seems to me we’re just beginners at love.We say we love each other and we do，I don’t doubt it.I love Terri and Terri loves me，and you guys love each other too.You know the kind of love I’m talking about now.Physical love，that impulse that drives you to someone special，as well as love of the other person’s being，his or her essence，as it were.Carnal love and，well，call it sentimental love，the day-to-day caring about the other person.But sometimes I have a hard time accounting for the fact that I must have loved my first wife too.But I did，I know I did.So I suppose I am like Terri in that regard.Terri and Ed.”He thought about it and then he went on.“There was a time when I thought I loved my first wife more than life itself.But now I hate her guts.I do.How do you explain that？What happened to that love？What happened to it，is what I’d like to know.I wish someone could tell me.Then there’s Ed.Okay，we’re back to Ed.He loves Terri so much he tries to kill her and he winds up killing himself.”Mel stopped talking and swallowed from his glass.“You guys have been together eighteen months and you love each other.It shows all over you.You glow with it.But you both loved other people before you met each other.
You’ve both been married before，just like us.And you probably loved other people before that too，even.Terri and I have been together five years，been married for four.And the terrible thing，the terrible thing is，but the good thing，too，the saving grace，you might say，is that if something happened to one of us-excuse me for saying this-but if something happened to one of us tomorrow，I think the other one，the other person，would grieve for a while，you know，but then the surviving party would go out and love again，have someone else soon enough.All this，all of this love we’re talking about-it would just be a memory.Maybe not even a memory.Am I wrong？Am I way off base？Because I want you to set me straight if you think I’m wrong.I want to know.I mean，I don’t know anything，and I’m the first one to admit it.”
“Mel，for God’s sake，”Terri said.She reached out and took hold of his wrist.“Are you getting drunk？Honey？Are you drunk？”
Mel said.“All right？I don’t have to be drunk to say what I think.I mean，we’re all just talking，right？”Mel said.He fixed his eyes on her.
“Sweetie，I’m not criticizing，”Terri said.
She picked up her glass.
“I’m not on call today，”Mel said.“Let me remind you of that.I am not on call.”
“Mel，we love you，”Laura said.
Mel looked at Laura.He looked at her as if he couldn’t place her，as if she was not the woman she was.
“Love you too，Laura{L-End}
，”Mel said.“And you，Nick，love you too.You know something？”Mel said.“You guys are our pals，”Mel said.
He picked up his glass.
雷蒙德？卡佛
我的朋友缪尔？麦格尼斯正说在兴头儿上。他是心外科专家，有时这个身份本身就给了他发言权。
我们四个人当时坐在他家厨房里，围着桌子喝杜松子酒。阳光透过水池后面的大窗户照进来，洒满整个厨房。在场的有缪尔，我，他的第二任太太特丽莎―我们叫她特丽―和我太太劳拉。那时我们都住在阿博科奇，但我们原本都是从外地搬来的。
桌子上有一个冰桶。酒和奎宁水不断被传来传去。我们不知不觉就谈到爱情这个话题。缪尔认为真正的爱情其实和宗教之爱没有区别。他说自己在去上医学院之前，曾在一个神学院呆了5年。直到现在回想起来，他仍然认为那段神学院岁月是他一生中最重要的时光。
特丽则提起在缪尔之前和她住在一起的那个男人，说他爱她爱到差点儿要了她的命。“有天晚上他揍得我很厉害。他拽着我的脚脖子在客厅里拖来拖去，不停地说：‘我爱你，我爱你，你这贱货。’他就这么一直在客厅里把我拖来拖去。我的头不断撞到东西上。”特丽扫了我们一眼，接着说道。“对这种爱情你们说该怎么办？”
她是一个消瘦的女人，脸庞清秀，眼睛漆黑，一头棕发垂在身后。她喜欢戴绿松石做的项链，以及长长下垂的耳环。
“我的上帝，别犯傻了。那不是爱情，你自己也明白。”缪尔说道。“我不清楚你应该叫它什么，但是我知道你绝不能把它叫做爱情。”
“你爱怎么说都可以，可我知道那就是爱情。”特丽说。“对你而言，那可能太过疯狂，可它照样是爱情。人和人不一样，缪尔。的确，我承认有时他的所作所为很疯狂。可是他爱我。也许用的是他自己的方式，但他爱我。那就是爱情，缪尔。别跟我说那不是。”
缪尔长叹了一口气。他端着酒杯，转向劳拉和我。“那个男人威胁要杀了我。”缪尔说道。他喝掉手里的酒，然后伸手去够酒瓶子。“特丽是个罗曼蒂克的人。她是‘你踢我所以我知道你爱着我’那个流派的。特丽，亲爱的，别用那种眼光看我。”缪尔把手伸过桌子，用手指摸了摸特丽的脸颊。他咧开嘴冲她笑笑。
“他这是要跟我讲和。”特丽说。
“讲什么和？”缪尔说道。“有什么和可讲的？我有一说一，就是这么回事。”
“咱们是怎么扯到这个话题上来的？”特丽说。她举起自己的酒杯喝了一口。“缪尔总是满脑子的爱情。没冤枉你吧，亲爱的？”她微笑着说。我以为这个话题到此也就结束了。
“我就是不想把艾德的行为叫做爱情。我要说的就是这个，亲爱的。”缪尔说道。“你们说呢？”他对着劳拉和我问道。“在你们听来，这算爱情吗？”
“问我你就找错了人。”我说。“我根本不认识这人。我只不过刚听你们提起他。我怎么会知道。这种事儿你得清楚来龙去脉才行。不过我觉得你想说的意思是，爱情应该是尽善尽美的。”
缪尔说：“我所说的那种爱情就是如此。我所说的那种爱情，你不会要去杀人。”
劳拉说：“我一点不了解艾德，也不了解当时的经过。可谁能对别人的事儿说三道四呢？”
我摸摸劳拉的手背。她很快冲我微笑了一下。我握住她的手。它很温暖，指甲涂着油，修剪得恰到好处。我用手指拢住她的手腕，把她搂在怀里。
“我搬走之后他喝了耗子药。”特丽说道。她双手交叉抱着胳膊。“他们把他拉到了圣塔菲那儿的医院。当时我们住在离那儿大概十里地之外。他们救了他一命。不过他的牙龈因为这个变得乱七八糟。它们跟牙都脱开了，他看上去像是满口狼牙。我的上帝。”特丽说。她停了一小会儿，然后松开手臂，端起她的酒杯。
“有些人无所不为！”劳拉说。
“现在他消停了。”缪尔说道。“他已经死了。”
缪尔递给我放着青柠檬的碟子。我拿了一片，把汁儿挤到我的酒里，用手搅了搅冰块。
“后来就更糟糕。”特丽说。“他朝自己嘴里开了枪。不过他把这也搞砸了。可怜的艾德。”特丽说完，摇了摇头。
“什么可怜的艾德！”缪尔说。“他是个危险分子。”
缪尔今年45岁。他身材高大，四肢修长，有着打卷的软发。他喜欢打网球，所以脸和胳膊都晒成了棕色。在没醉的时候，他的姿态和动作都很精确，谨慎。
“可他确实是爱我的，缪尔。你得承认这个。”特丽说。“我只要求你这个。他爱我的方式，跟你爱我的方式不一样。我没说它们一样。可是他爱我。你能承认这一点，对不对？”
“你说他搞砸了是怎么回事？”我问道。
劳拉端着酒杯把身子向前挪了挪。她把胳膊肘放到桌上，用俩手托住酒杯。她的目光从缪尔扫到特丽，脸上带着一种百思不解的表情等待着，好像为熟人身上会发生这样的事情而惊异。
“他怎么把自杀搞砸的？”我又问。
“我来告诉你是怎么回事吧。”缪尔说道。“他拿的那支点22手枪原本是用来威胁特丽和我的。哦，我可不是在开玩笑。那家伙总在威胁别人。你是没看见那些日子里我们怎么活过来的。就和在逃犯一样。我自己甚至也买了支枪。你能相信吗？像我这样的人？可我确实买了。我买来是为了防身的，平常就放在汽车的手套箱里。有时候我半夜得起来去医院，你知道吧？那时特丽和我还没结婚，我的房子，孩子，狗和其他的一切都归了前妻。特丽和我就住在这个公寓里。就像我说的，有时我深夜被电话叫起来，凌晨两三点钟就得去医院。停车场上漆黑一片，还没等走到我的车跟前，我就已经浑身冒冷汗了。我拿不准他是不是会从灌木丛里，或者从哪辆车后面走出来，朝我开枪。要我说，那人就是个疯子。他知道怎么造炸弹之类的东西。他过去常打电话到我那儿的服务台，说要跟大夫讲话。我接了以后，他就说：‘狗娘养的，你的日子没几天了。’或者诸如此类的话。这很吓人，我跟你说。”
“我还是觉得他挺可怜的。”特丽说。
“听上去像一场噩梦。”劳拉说道。“不过他朝自己开枪之后，到底怎么样了呢？”
劳拉是位法律秘书。我们是在工作当中认识的。可是很快我们就开始约会。她现在三十五岁，比我小三岁。我们彼此相爱，也都很喜欢对方在自己身边相伴。她很容易相处。
“到底发生了什么？”劳拉又问了一遍。
缪尔说：“他在自己的房间朝嘴里开了一枪。有人听见枪声，报告给了经理。他们用********打开门进来，看到这样子，就叫了救护车。他被拉到医院的时候，我碰巧就在那儿。他当时还活着，但已经没救了。他多活了三天。他的头肿得足有正常人两个脑袋那么大。我以前从没见过那样的脑袋，今后也不想再看见。特丽知道这件事后，想要进去坐那儿陪着他。我们为此吵了一架。我不想让她看到他那个样子。我觉得她不应该去见他，到现在我还是这么认为。”
“最后谁吵赢了？”劳拉问道。
“他咽气的时候我在病房里陪着他。”特丽说。“他一直没有醒过来。可我还是坐在那儿陪他。他再没有其他亲人了。”
“他是个危险分子。”缪尔说。“如果你愿意管那个叫爱情，那就随你便吧。”
“可那真的是爱情。”特丽说道。“的确，在大多数人眼里，它不太正常。可是他愿意为它去死。他也确实做到了为它而死。”
“我无论如何也不会把它叫做爱情！”缪尔说。“我的意思是说，没人知道他到底是为了什么而死的。我见过很多自杀，但我没见过有谁真的知道这些人为什么要去死。”
缪尔把双手放到脖子后面，向后翘起椅子。“我对这种爱情没有兴趣。”他说道。“如果你说那是爱情的话，那就归你好了。”
特丽说：“我们俩很害怕。缪尔甚至都写好了遗嘱，还写信给他那个以前当过特种兵，眼下住在加州的弟弟。缪尔告诉他，万一自己出了事，他应该去找谁算账。”
特丽又从酒杯里喝了口酒。她接着说：“不过缪尔说得也对―我们过得是像在逃犯一样。我们很害怕。缪尔，亲爱的，你是很害怕，对吧？有一回我都打电话报警了。可是他们也帮不上忙。说是除非艾德真的做出了什么事，否则他们也爱莫能助。这不是很荒唐吗？”
她把瓶子里剩下的一点酒都倒进酒杯，然后摇了摇空瓶子。缪尔从桌边站起身，到橱柜里又拿出一瓶酒来。
“尼克和我知道爱情是什么。”劳拉说道。“我是指对我们俩人自己而言。”她用膝盖碰了碰我的膝盖。“现在该轮到你说点什么了。”劳拉转过来，微笑着对我说。
作为回答，我把劳拉的手举到我的嘴唇边，极其隆重地吻了吻。每个人都笑了。
“我们俩是幸运儿。”我说道。
特丽说：“你们俩得了吧，快点打住！我都要被你们酸得反胃了。上帝呀，你们现在还是在蜜月期里呢！你们还没醒过梦来呢，真是的！等着吧。你们在一起多长时间了？有多久？一年到了吗？超过一年了吧。”
“有一年半了。”劳拉羞红了脸，笑着说道。
“噢，所以嘛！还得再等一阵儿。”特丽说。
她端着酒杯，打量着劳拉。
“别当真，我这只是个玩笑话。”特丽说道。
缪尔把酒瓶启开，绕着桌子给大家添酒。
“来吧，各位。咱们干一杯。我要祝你们一杯。为了真正的爱情，干杯。”缪尔说道。
我们大家碰了杯。
“为了爱情。”我们说道。
外面的后院里，有只狗开始叫唤。窗外白桦树的树叶轻轻敲打着玻璃。午后的阳光就像在这个房间里住下来了一样。充沛的光线慷慨怡人，使这里不比任何迷人的地方逊色。我们又一次举起杯来，朝彼此开怀笑着，像是达成了默契要去做坏事的孩子们一样。
“我来告诉你们真正的爱情是什么吧。”缪尔说。“我是说，我来给你们举个很好的例子，然后你们自己去得出结论。”他往自己的酒杯里又倒了些酒，加了一个冰块和一片青柠檬。我们品着酒，等着他继续说。劳拉和我的膝盖又碰到一起。我把一只手放到她温暖的大腿上，没再移开。
“我们当中，有谁当真明白什么是爱情呢？”缪尔说道。“尽管我们都说爱对方，而我也不怀疑我们确实彼此相爱，可照我看，我们依然只不过是爱情新手。我爱特丽，特丽也爱我。你们俩也彼此相爱。你明白我现在所说的那种爱情吧。就是那种感官意义上的爱，那种驱使你去接近你所爱之人的冲动，以及对那个人的身体本身的热爱。肉体上的爱，再加上对那个人日复一日的关爱，呃，就叫它情绪上的爱吧。可是，有时我很难找出证据，来解释我以前一定也爱过我前妻这个事实。不过我确实爱过她。我知道我是爱过的。因此从这个意义上说，我和特丽的感觉一样。就是特丽对艾德的那种感觉。”他想了想，然后接着说了下去：“曾经有过一段时间，我爱我的前妻，胜过我爱生命本身。现在我却恨她恨到骨子里。我确实恨她。可你怎么来解释这回事呢？我原来的爱情到底出了什么问题？我想要知道它到底变成了什么。我真想有人能告诉我。再来说说艾德。嗯，我们又扯回到他头上了。他爱特丽爱到要杀了她，最后他却要了自己的性命。”缪尔停了下来，从酒杯里喝了一大口酒。“你们俩在一起十八个月了，彼此相爱。这谁都看得出来。你们的身上洋溢着爱情。可是你们两个人在遇到彼此之前，也都爱过别的人。你们以前都结过婚，就和我们一样。而且你们在原来结婚之前，没准也还爱过其他人。特丽和我在一起五年了，结婚也有四年了。可是让人伤心的事儿，让人伤心的事儿是，当然也算是好事儿，你可以说算是一种补偿，假如我们俩人中的一个遇到不测―我这么说你们别介意―可是假如明天我们俩人中的一个就遇到不测，我觉得另外那个人，会悲伤一阵子，你明白吧，可是活下来的这人不久就会恢复过来，又会再去爱上别人。所有的这一切，我们所说的这种爱情，就会仅仅成为一段记忆而已。甚至连记忆都算不上。我说错了吗？我是不是太离谱了？你们要是觉得我说得不对，千万要纠正我。我是真心想要知道。我对此一无所知，这我自己第一个承认。”
“缪尔，看在上帝的份上。”特丽说道。她伸出手，攥住他的手腕。“你是不是要醉了？亲爱的？你醉了吧？”
“亲爱的，我只是说说而已，”缪尔说。“成吗？我不必非要等到醉了，才能说出我想说的话吧？我的意思是，我们都只不过是说说而已，对不对？”他的目光盯在她身上。
“宝贝儿，我不是在责怪你。”特丽说道。
她拿起她的酒杯。
“我今天不用值班。”缪尔说。“我想提醒你记住这点。我没在值班。”
“缪尔，我们都爱你。”劳拉说道。
缪尔看着劳拉。他的眼神仿佛在说他不知道该怎么对她，好像她不再是原来的那个她。
“我也爱你，劳拉。”缪尔说。“还有你，尼克，我也爱你。你知道吗？你们俩是我们的密友。”缪尔说道。
他拿起他的酒杯。
作者简介
About the Author
Raymond Carver：雷蒙德？卡佛（1938―1988），美国当代著名短篇小说家、诗人，美国“极简主义”代表作家，并被誉为“新小说”创始者。
1938年5月25日出生于俄勒冈州克拉斯坎尼镇，1988年8月2日因肺癌去世。
高中毕业后，即养家糊口艰难谋生，业余学习写作。卡佛人生的前一半充满了苦难与失望。失业，酗酒，破产，妻离子散，友人背弃，坠入人生之谷底。晚年文学声名渐高，却罹患肺癌，五十岁便英年早逝。
卡佛的作品风格和他自身经历密切相关，精简冷硬。他不是用天才来写作，而是呕心沥血地写作。卡佛一生的作品以短篇小说和诗歌为主，代表作有《请你安静一下好不好？》《当我们谈论爱情时我们谈论着什么》《大教堂》《何方来电》等。
V
词汇扫雷
ocabulary
1.cardiologist：心脏病专家
2.gin：杜松子酒
3.sink：水槽，水池
4.tonic：奎宁水（一种味微苦、常加于烈性酒中的有气饮料）
5.seminary：神学院
6.manicured：指甲经修剪过的
7.gum：牙龈
8.bungle：搞糟，完不成
9.rangy：四肢瘦长的
10.sober：没喝醉的，头脑清醒的
11.bewilderment：疑惑
12.fugitive：逃亡者
13.shrubbery：灌木林
14.professional capacity：专业身份
15.courtship：追求期，求爱期
16.tilt：倾斜
17.waggle：来回摇摆
18.bump：撞击，碰撞
19.gaga：狂热的，着迷的
20.aspen：白杨木
小编点评
还是青涩少年时，我们以为韩剧中童话般的情节就是爱情的全部，一个现代版的灰姑娘遇到了对她一见倾心的男主人公，两人的恋情发展无论有多曲折都充满了浪漫、令人怦然心动的场景。然而随着我们日渐成长，对爱情的认识也日趋成熟，以往心中偷偷憧憬的金色图画也褪去了它瑰丽的色彩。
《当我们谈论爱情时我们谈论着什么》为我们展现了各个主人公对爱情的不同理解，多元化的同时也更加接近现实，更加深刻。中国的社会也在全面步入现代化，物质生活变得丰硕的同时，传统的婚恋观也开始分崩离析。希望在阅读完这篇小说后，各位读者也不妨问一下自己，我对爱情持有的信念是什么，我可以在现代社会的霓虹闪耀和车水马龙中坚守住这份信念吗？
《查泰来夫人的情人》中那个高位截瘫的退伍上校有过一席肺腑的感言，大致是说人之于社会就像鱼之于海洋。看似陆生的人类实际上生活在一片隐形的、以金钱为纽带的海洋之中。这样看来，那么沙滩上偶尔搁浅的鱼儿岂不是以常人看似离经叛道的举动谱写了通往真实的序曲。正如同《简？爱》中阁楼上的疯女人被女作家丽斯拯救出来，从而使我们看到了事实的另一面。
